46 
BRITISH BIRDS* 
namenting the head-dreffes of the European ladles^ 
and the turbans of the Perfians and Turks. 
The Egret feldom exceeds a pound and a half 
in weight, and rarely a foot and a half in length. 
A bare green Ikin is extended from the beak to the 
eyes, the irides of which are pale yellow : the bill 
and legs are black. Like the common Heron they 
perch and build their nefts on trees^ and live on 
the fame kinds of food. 
This fpecies is found in almoft every temperate 
and warm climate, and mufl formerly have been 
plentiful in Great Britain, if it be the fame bird 
as that mentioned by Leland in the lift or bill of 
fare prepared for the famous feaft of Archbilhop 
Nevil, in which one thoufand of thefe birds were 
ferved up. No wonder the fpecies has become 
nearly extind in this country ! 
